Second Wakefield Council Reform councillor quits party to become independent
Steve Lewis will continue to serve as an independent member for Normanton ward.
A second Reform UK councillor in Wakefield has quit less than two months after the party gained control of the local authority.
A Wakefield Council spokesperson said the council had been informed that Steve Lewis had resigned but would continue to serve as an independent member for Normanton ward.
Reform took control of the local authority from Labour after winning 58 out of 63 seats following the May 7 election.
Labour was left with just once councillor after losing control of the authority for the first time since it was established in 1974.
Coun Lewis was elected to serve a two-year term after receiving the second highest number of votes in Normanton.
A Wakefield Council spokesperson said: “We have been informed that Coun Steve Lewis has resigned from Reform UK and is now sitting as an independent councillor.”
Coun Lewis and Reform UK have been contacted for comment.
The announcement comes two weeks after Rhys Carr left Reform to represent Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton war as an independent.
In a social media post at the time, Coun Carr said: “I have made the decision to leave the Reform Party, as it is no longer the right fit for me.
“It has become clear that local issues are not prioritised, and that is simply not what I stood for when I was elected.
In response , a Reform UK Wakefield group spokesperson said: “Councillor Carr has decided to leave the party before the outcome of an ongoing internal investigation into allegations around his conduct.
“We’d like to reassure residents of Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton that they can continue to rely on their Reform councillors.”